The Battle of the Japan Sea.— When Port Arthur was completely isolated, Russia organ ized a second Pacific squadron with the purpose of relieving it. Led by Vice-Admiral Roiest vensky, it left Libau for the Far East on 16 Oct. 1904. The squadron was divided into two divisions, one of which voyaged round Africa, while the other passed through the Suez Canal. They joined again at Madagascar on the day on which Port Arthur capitulated. In April 1905 it stopped at different ports in French Annam, one after another, and on 5 May was joined by a third Pacific squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral Nebogatoff. As Port Arthur had already fallen, the Russian fleet steamed northward with the_purpose of entering Vladi vostock. Admiral Togo, commander-in-chief of the Japanese fleet, anticipated that the enemy's fleet would attempt the passage of the Straits of Tsushima, and calmly waited for its coming, having concentrated all his naval strength at the base of operations. At 5 A.M. on 27 May he received a wireless telegram saying that the enemy's fleet was sighted. He at once issued orders to different detachments of warships to sally forth and meet the enemy according to a prearranged plan. At 2 P.M. on the same day the opposing fleets confronted each other to the north of Okinoshima Island. Admiral Togo hoisted on the masthead of his flagship, Mikasa, a signal saying: *The fate of the Empire depends on the issue of this battle. All are expected to do their best.* At 2.08 P.M. the enemy opened fire, but the Japanese fleet refrained from responding until the range be came less than 6,000 metres. Then it opened fire. It was both fierce and effective, and in a short time, beginning with the Oslabya, which led the enemy's fleet, and the flagship, Knias Suvaroff, most of the Russian warships were either sunk or disabled, and when darkness set in the Japanese destroyers and torpedo boats made daring attacks on the still remaining vessels of the enemy. On the following day the Japanese fleet succeeded in intercepting five Russian vessels, which were trying to escape northward. Rear-Admiral Nebogatoff, who commanded this detachment of the Russian fleet, saw the utter futility of resistance and sur rendered. As for Vice-Admiral Rojestvensky, he was found on board a captured destroyer in a seriously wounded condition and made a prisoner of war. Of the 38 vessels which had attempted the passage of the Straits of Tsu shima 20 were sunk and five were captured by the Japanese, and only four cruisers and a few destroyers and transports made good their es cape. Thus it is no exaggeration to say that the Second and Third Russian Pacific squadrons were practically annihilated. In contrast to this overwhelming loss sustained by Russia the Japanese losses consisted of only three torpedo boats.
Thus Russia lost on land Liaoyang, Port Arthur and Mukden, while on sea the First. Second and Third Pacific squadrons. The issue of the war was now clearly decided.
The North Korean Army.— For some time after the outbreak of the war Japan stationed only small garrisons at different places in Ko rea, but in view of frequent raids made by the Russians into the northernprovince of Ham gyong, headquarters of the Japanese troops in the peninsula were established at Seoul in the summer of 1905, with Lieutenant-General Miyo shi as commander-in-chief. The North Korean Army thus organized for the first time occupied the important town of Kyong-syong on 20 June and steadily advancing northward cleared the Pu-ryong and Pu-peuk districts of the enemy by 24 July, and occupying Kyong-heung, a town on the frontier of much strategical importance, was in a position to menace Vladivostock.
The Subjugation of Saghalien.-:-- Not long after the battle of the Japan Sea a Saghalien expeditionary army was organized with military and naval contingents under the command of Lieutenant-General Haraguchi. On 4 July 1905 a squadron commanded by Vice-Admiral Ka taoka left Otaru escorting a number of trans with troops on board. On 8 July the panese occupied Korsakoff without difficulty and advancing further north occupied Alex androvski on the 24th, and on the 30th Lieu tenant-General Haraguchi proclaimed military administration over the whole island. On the same day the Russian military governor of the island asked for an armistice, and on the fol lowing day the Japanese and Russian commis sioners met to discuss the terms of surrender. The Russians agreed to Japan's terms, and 3,270 officers and men surrendered. In this way Saghalien was subjugated in three weeks.
Since the outbreak of the war Japan had won every battle on land and sea. Especially the great victories of the battles of Mukden and of the Japan Sea placed her in a most favorable condition as to the ultimate issue of the war. It was at this time that President Roosevelt of the United States urged the two combatants to lay down their arms. After duly considering different aspects of the situation, the Japanese government concluded that it was wise to listen to the friendly advice of President Roosevelt. On 3 July 1905 Baron Jutaro Komura, Min ister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Kogoro Takahira, Japanese Minister at Washington, were appointed plenipotentiaries for negotiating the terms of peace with Russian plenipoten tiaries (M. Witte and Baron Rosen). The peace conferences, held at Portsmouth, U. S. A., in the latter part of August, arrived at a satisfac tory conclusion and the treaty was signed by the plenipotentiaries of both parties on 5 Sep tember. See PORTSMOLTTH, TREATY OF.